Machine for continuous process of impregnating, compressing, and cooling coil windings



June 13, 1933.

C H. THORDARSON 4 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1930 sfer J5? #972 for" H T/zordarson June 1933. c. H. THORDARSON MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF IMPREQNATING,

COMPRESSING, AND COOLING COIL WINDINGS Filed Feb. 1, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 13, 1933. c. H. THORDARSON 1,914,182

- ONTINUOUS PROCESS O MACHINE FOR C F IMPRE N T COMPRESSING, AND COOLING COIL WIN G Filed Feb- 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J77f972 tor- C'fiesftf/I 7bordarson.

Jun 13, 1933. c THORDARSON 1,914,182

MACHINE FOR CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF IMPREGNATING,

COMPRESSING, AND COOLING COIL WINDINGS Filed Feb. 1, 1930 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H1 1 ::;'Uv' i 45/ 2 Fri l0. 48 4o 4 40 6'? k firm??? for: hesfeW/rf Tiandaroon. 45 k5 vlllim 2 57 Patented June 13, 1933 rran STATES (II-FESTI ER H. T'HORDARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MACHINE ron CONTINUOUS, rnoonss or IMPREGNATING, COMPRESSING, Ann COOLING COIL WINDINGS Applicationfiled February 1, 1930. Serial No. 425,338.

This invention relates in general to a method and machine by means of which coil windings, such a used in transformers, motors, and the like, may be impregnated, compressed and cooled in a continuous process. 1 I

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of apparatus for supporting the windings loosely during impregnation and drying and for compressing them to finished shape before cooling.

A further object of thi invention is the provision of apparatus comprising tanks, continuous trackways, and carriers unitable into a chain by means of which separate coil windings may be continuously progressed to impregnate, compress and cool them., i

A further object of this invention is the provision of apparatus of this type in which means are employed. for heating the impregnating compound.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a closed chamber with a track therein over which the carriers may move during the cooling process.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a method by means of which windings may be impregnated, freed of moisture, drained and cooled in a continuous process.

These and other objects as will appear from the following disclosure are secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, relative location of parts, steps and series of steps, all as will be pointed out in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the device of this invention showing some parts in elevation;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4: is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4.4 of Fig. 1;-

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the guide wheel and its association with the track and carrier; 1

Fig. 6 is atop plan view of one of the carrier units;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of this unit;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view through one of the carriers; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevational views from both sides of the compressing cam.

At the present time it is most general to treat insulated windings, such as those used in motors, transformers, and similar electrical devices, in ,a series of independent steps for removing the moisture from the windings, impregnating them with insulating compound, removing the excess compound, forming thecoils to shape, and cool ing them. As the method is now carried out these various steps are accomplished independently in different pieces of apparatus and require that the coils be handled many times during their treatment, resulting in a relatively. slow process and one which is relatively expensive. The general object of this invention is the provision of apparatus anda method by means of which these steps may be carried out continuously and in sequence without undue delay and at a minimum cost.

The invention will best be understood by direct reference to the drawings. At 1 and 2 is shown a container or tan-k comprising a body portion and a cover, respectively. This tank holds the impregnating compound which may be of any suitable substance now well known in the art and is of such proportions and is filled to such a depth that the upperportion thereof is free of treating liquid. Mounted within the tank are a series of vertical parallel struts or supports 3 arranged in concentric circles, as is clear from Fig. 2, for supporting the track which in this case comprises two complementary U-shaped track members arranged in the form of a spiral. The free flangesof the tracks oppose each other and are spaced apart, as clearly shown for example in Fig. 1.

The track enters the tank 1 at the point 5 and continues in a spiral path downwardly to the bottom thereof through the impregnating compound between the concentric supports 3. The portion of the track below the impregnating compound is indicated by the spiral turns 6. At 7, as shown in Fig. 2, the track curves around two spaced guide sprocket wheels 30 of the construction shown in Fig. 5. These sprocket wheels are mounted upon a shaft 31 and may idle thereon or be driven by means of a pulley or gear indicated generally at 32. These two sprocket wheels lie within the portions 4 of the track for a purpose to be described later. The track then extends vertically upward through the portion 7, as shown in Fig. 3, and at this point is twisted through a quarter turn or 90 so as to overlie guide sprocket wheels 8 which are similar to the sprocket wheels 30. These sprocket wheels are secured to shaft 9 which is driven by means of the pulley or gear 10 from any suitable power source. The track members then continue on into a spiral at the top of tank 1 comprising the turns 11 and progress downwardly until they emerge from the tank 1 at the point 12. The track then extends to enter tank 13 into which it enters at the point 14. This tank is provided with a movable cover 15, as shown, and is also provided with a series of vertical parallel posts or uprights 17 arranged in concentric circles, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The spiral turns 16 are supported between these posts, as is clear from Fig. 1. The track after reaching the bottom of tank 1 then emerges therefrom at the point 18 and continues into the portion 19 and on around to the point where it again enters tank 1 at 5.

From the above description of the track members it will be apparent that this track is of continuous form closing on itself so that the carriers which move thereon enter tank 1, move through a spiral path down through the impregnating compound, progress vertically along the portion 7 into the spiral portion 11 and downwardly to point 12 where it emerges from tank 1. It then continues on into the top of tank 13, progresses spirally down therethrough and emerges from the tank at 19 and finally returns on back to the point 5. 7

Within tank 1 and below the impregnating compound is a suitable heater 20 which may be a gas heater, a steam heated device, or any other suitable apparatus by means of which the impregnating compound may be raised to the desired temperature. Emerging from the top of the heater is a pipe connection 21 which is connected to the spiral heating coil comprising the turns 22. A con nection 23 extends from the lower end of the heating coil to a suitable pump 24 by means of which hot air may be caused to circulate through the heating coil. The end. of connection 21 attached to the heater opens to the interior thereof, which heater is exposed to the atmosphere through the bottom of the container as shown in Fig. 1. By means of this arrangement air may be drawn into the heater, raised to the proper temperature, and then caused to move through the heating coils and finally emerge through the suction blower.

The conveyor mechanism comprises a series of separable units, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive. These carrier units comprise a frame 40 provided with hooks 41 which lie in planes at right angles to each other. The sides of the frame are provided with short bearings on which are mounted small rollers 42 which it is best to provide with ball bearings. The ends of the shaft on which the rollers 42 are mounted may be provided with a ball bearing, as shown at 61, to reduce side friction, or with rounded ends, as shown at 62, for the same purpose. Secured within the frame 40 is a bottom and side member comprising the portions 43 and 44. The portion 44 is provided with struck up tabs to form the clips 45 which extend over one side of the frame 40 for supporting it in place. The other side comprises the vertical portion 46 and the right angle flange portion 47. Secured to the vertical portion 46 is a pin or short shaft 48 which extends through a hole in the frame 40, as shown in Fig. 8. Mounted on this shaft 47 is a cam member 49provided with an operating handle 50. The cam member is provided with two inclined cam surfaces 52 extending in opposite directions which cooperate with inclined surfaces cut on the inner face of that portion of the framework at 4O adjacent thereto. The upper face of the framework is cut away at an angle, as shown at 52, to provide a cooperating surface with the cam surface 51 and in a similar manner, not shown, the lower face of the framework is cut away to cooperate with the other cam surface. The coil to be treated is shown in dotted outline at 100. Of course the apparatus may be adapted to treat any suitable shape of coil.

These carrier units are hooked together, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, to provide in effect an endless conveyor. The sprockets 30 and 8 are constructed, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, with peripheral recesses in which rollers 42 snugly fit so that the conveyor may be driven and guided in its movement, especially where it makes a sharp turn as occurs at the bottom and the top of the tank, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the device will be understood from the foregoing description but it will be briefly reviewed for sake of clarity. The carriers which are indicated generally 3. C n Fig. 2 are mounted between the portions 4 of the track andunited together to form a continuous chain or conveyor. The tracks may pass over a table at the points in Fig. 2, for example, where the three carrier units are shown. At this point the operator may fit the coils 100 into the carriers by this time the side wall 46 is loose and at the left of its movement of Fig. 8 by reason of the fact that the last points of the cam surface 51 are opposite the cooperating surface 52 on the framework. The conveyor is moving continuously and any particular coil progressed to the'left in Fig. 2 along the portion 19 of the track and into the tank lat 5. It then progresses downwardly in a spiral path through the impregnating compound where theheated compound dries out some of the moisture therefrom and thoroughly impregnates the windings.

The particular coil then travels up the portion 7 of the track and into the spiral turn 11 where excess impregnating compound may drip therefrom, the remaining port-ion dried, and the moisture removed therefrom by reason of the heated condition of the air above the impregnating compound. 'As shown in Fig. 3, there is a pin 60 which is secured within the tank in the path of the handle of the cam on each carrier. As the particular carrier moves past this pin it strikes the handle 50 and rotates the cam 49 in a clockwise direction, when viewed from the right, Fig. 8. This rotation of the cam causes the side wall 46 to move to the right and compress the winding into final shape. By means of this arrangement the entire coil is free for impregnation as it moves through the impregnating compound since it fits loosely in the carrier and is only placed under compression after leaving the compound and just before it enters into the spiral turn 11 of the track.' The coil as carried by the conveyor then emerges from thetankl at 12 and passes into tank 13 at 14. It then continues to move spirally through this tank which may be supplied with a continuous flow of cool air to thoroughly cool anddry the coil and cause it to set in compressed condition. The coil then emerges from tank 13 at the point 18 and travels along the portion 19 of the track back to the starting point where it is quickly removed from the carrier by the operator who rotates the cam in the opposite direction to loosen it. A new'coil is then quickly placed in the carrier which has just been emptied.

The conveyor can operate continuously and at any speed which is not too great to permit an operator to remove a treated coil and introduce an untreated coil in its place.

The above description points out what it is desired to emphasize here that the coils when placed in the carrier are free in submerely dropping them into place. At.

stantially all directions and fit loosely only in the carrier so that the impregnating compound can get at all the surfaces thereof. After the coil is thoroughly impregnated it is automatically compressed to the final form, as shown, and dried and cooled in compressed form so as to set it in the desired finished shape and form.

During the use of the apparatus the heater is in operation and the pump 24 is operating so that heated air is continually conveyed through the coil 22 to maintain the treated compound at the proper temperature.

An important feature of the construction employed is represented by the spiral tracks which are inclined in the direction of travel of the conveyor so as to cause as little resistance to movement as possible. Even movement of the carrier is also contributed to by reason of the fact that the rollers 42 are on ball bearing mountings and the ends of the shafts for these rollers which contact with the tracks are rounded or provided with a ball bearing to reduce friction.

The sprockets 30 and 8 supply the power to move the conveyor and provide guides at the points where the conveyor changes its direction of movement. In best practice the sprocket 30 may be an idler sprocket and no power need be applied thereto since sufiicient power can be transmitted through sprockets 8.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have provided an invention involving certain principles of construction and operation and certain methods of procedure which may be embodied in other physical forms and carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. I do not,therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given in the specification and drawings for purposes of illustrating these principles but rather to the scope of the invention as it has been defined in the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising an impregnating tank, a cooling tank, a continuous track comprising a spiral section in the bottom portion of said impregnating tank, a spiral portion in the upper part of said tank, a spiral portion in said cooling tank, and connecting portions for uniting all of said spiral portions in a continuous track.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising an impregnating tank, a cooling tank, a continuous track comprising a spiral section .in the bottom portion of said impregnating tank, a spiral portion in the upper part of said tank, a spiral portion in said cooling tank, connecting portions for .uniting all of said spiral portions in a continuous track, and a continuous [conveyor mounted in said track, said connections being arranged so that the conveyor first progresses through the bo tom portion of said impregnating tank, then upwardly and through the upper portion of said impregnating tank, and finally through said cooling tank.

8. In an. apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a treating tank adapted to be partially filled with a treating compound, a cooling tank, a continuous track extending into both of said tanks, a conveyor mounted on said track comprising coil receiving units, said track being so arranged that the conveyor first progresses through the treating compound, then upwardly and through the upper portion of the treating tank, and finally through the cooling tank and means cooperating with said units to subject the coils to pressure at a predetermined point in their path of travel.

4. A conveyor unit of the type described comprising a frame, supporting rollers on said frame, a platform on said frame iav ing a movable side wall, and a movable cam cooperating with said frame for causing the movable wall to move transversely of the frame in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the cam.

5. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a treating tank adapted to be partially filled with treating compound, means for heating said treating compound, a cooling tank, a continuous conveyor track having portions thereof mounted in said tanks, and a continuous conveyor mounted in said tracks, said tracks being arranged so that the conveyor first progresses through the treating compound, then moves upwardly to the top of the treating tank through the top thereof, and finally to and through the cooling tank.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination with a treating tank and a cooling tank, of a continuous conveyor track having portions thereof in said tanks, an endless conveyor on said track compris ing molding units each having means thereon for compressing the article supported thereby to mold them to final form, and means in the path of movement of said units for actuating the compressing means.

7. A conveyor unit of the type described comprising a rectangular frame, supporting rc-llers on said frame, a Ushaped platform attached to said frame having a movable side wall, a pin on said movable side wall having sliding engagement with said frame, and means mounted on said pin for effecting transverse movement of the side wall.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a treating tank, a cooling tank, said treating tank being adapted to be partially filled with treating compound, means for heating said treating compound, an endless track connecting said tanks and having a portion in the treating compound, a portion in the upper part of the treating tank, and a portionin the cooling tank, connections between said portions and a continuous conveyor comprising individual units, means on each of said units for applying pressure to the articles carried thereby, and means Within said treating tank and in the path of said units for operating the compressing means, said connections be tween said portions of the track being arranged so that the conveyor first progresses through the treating compound, then moves upwardly to the top of the treating tank, progresses through the top thereof and emerges therefrom, and enters and progresses through the cooling tank, and finally emerges therefrom.

9. In a coil treating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a combined drying and impregnating tank, a cooling tank, a continuous track extending to and through said tanks, a continuous coil receiving conveyor supported on said tracks comprising coil receiving units and means cooperating with each unit in succession as they progress along the track for causing them to subject the coils to pressure after being impregnated.

10. In an article treating apparatus of the type described, the combination comprising a heated impregnating tank, a cooling tank, a continuous track comprising spiral sections for increasing the length of the path f travel in each of said tanks and a continuous conveyor including pressure producing units mounted on said tracks for carrying the articles through said tanks under pressure.

11. In an apparatus for processing articles, the combination comprising an impregnating tank, a cooling tank, a continuous track having portions thereof Within said tanks, a plurality of conveying compressor units united to form a conveyor movable on said track, each unit having a compression member thereon to apply pressure to the article thereon to deform it to the desired size and shape, and means adjacent said track for moving each compressing member after impregnation to pressure applying position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set may hand on this 81st day of January A. D.

CHESTER H. THORDARSON. 

